FOOTAGE showing sectarian songs being chanted at a north Belfast interface bonfire has been branded "disgraceful".
The footage shows a large group of people singing the 'Billy Boys' at what is said to be the Adam Street bonfire, which was set ablaze on Sunday.
The pyre was built off Duncairn Gardens, close to the interface between New Lodge and Tiger's Bay in north Belfast.
It is now claimed that some of those in attendance chanted the sectarian anthems at the bonfire site.
The 'Billy Boys', a favourite with some Glasgow Rangers supporters, includes the words "we're up to our necks in Fenian blood surrender or you'll die".
The pyre was subject of a legal challenge by the Department for Infrastructure, headed by the SDLP's Nichola Mallon and Department for Communities, which is run by Sinn Féin's Deirdre Hargey.
It was dismissed on Friday night after a judge refused an earlier, similar case taken by a New Lodge resident to direct PSNI officers to intervene at the Tiger's Bay site.
Unionist politicians visited the site last week to offer their support to bonfire builders.
Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly last night slammed the footage.
"Video footage of sectarian chanting at the bonfire on Adam Street is disgraceful," he said.
“Earlier in the week three unionist leaders visited this site, gave the bonfire their approval and told us it was a celebration of culture on an interface."
His party colleague councillor JJ Magee was on the ground along with party colleagues in north Belfast on the Eleventh Night.
"It passed of relatively peacefully thankfully for the neighbours of the New Lodge who have had to endure four months intimidation and attacks on their homes," he said.
"These expressions of hate disguised as expressions of culture need to stop.
"Attacks on residents need to stop."
He also said the burning of flags and election posters on some bonfires in the area needs to be halted.
"There were a number of other bonfires in Tigers Bay last night and both had flags on top of them," he said.
"This totally contrary to what political unionism had argued - that there were no expressions of hate on top of them."
